What Makes YIMS Great 2023-2024

Yough students recently competed in Williams Mechanical Design Challenge held at Penn State-Fayette. A total of 30 teams from Fayette and Westmoreland counties competed in the competition. Students were asked to design and build a hydraulic machine that will move cargo to specific locations. Each team had 5 minutes to move as much cargo as possible. Yough Team 1-Dallys, Tyler, Darius, and Hayden- scored the highest points and took 1st place in the competition. Congratulations!!
      

Check out all the cool, innovative presentations at the countywide elementary invention convention. Yough Middle School is proud and honored to host the event each year! Thanks to Mrs. Pazer and her students for all their assistance!
           

On Friday, December 4th, thirty 6th-grade students were awarded the opportunity to visit the Carnegie Museum of Art through a grant from the Buncher Foundation. During the 90-minute workshop, the museum educators introduced different works to the students and encouraged literary analysis through poetry and expressive writing exercises. Thank you to Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs. Surovchak for providing this learning experience!
        

A great big congratulations to our 3R winners! Students who demonstrate our district theme of respect, responsibility, and resilience are given a ticket by their teachers with the opportunity to win a prize. Our three winners for the fall are Chloe, Jenna, and Anastasia! We are so very proud of you and all our students who were recognized by their teachers!
      

Our yearly drive to assist HEAL Animal Rescue is underway. If anyone is interested in donating to this worthy cause, please do so. Items like canned dog/cat food, blankets, treats, and chew toys will be accepted. Thank you to Mrs. Berarducci and her students for coordinating for this worthy cause.
    

As part of our Cougar Career Ready series, Yough students had the opportunity to hear from guest speaker Kaylee Barnhart of the Pennsylvania State Police. Trooper Barnhart shared with students the training, physical, academic, and mental expectations of becoming a trooper. She spoke about her experiences at the Police Academy and daily work experiences while answering many student questions. We are grateful for sharing her knowledge, inspiring our students, and serving and protecting our community.
          

CAP/SADD and YIMS 6th graders made bracelets and ornaments in support of Marshall Fee, a sixth grader at Southmoreland who is awaiting a heart transplant. The items were sold at Scottdale Light Up Night and the profits were given to Marshall’s family.
              

Yough Yale students recently participated in the City of Pittsburgh’s 21st annual Gingerbread House Competition. Students were tasked with creating and designing their own themed gingerbread houses. There were over 300 submissions for the contest. In the elementary division, Oliver, Atley and Aubrey’s Christmas at Snoopy received an Honorable Mention. In the middle school division, Darius and Tyler’s Northpole Express received an Honorable Mention. Congratulations! Houses will be on display through January 5, 2024 at Pittsburgh’s City County Building if you have the opportunity to stop by and see the display.
                  

Mrs. Carpenter's science classes are working with seeds and sprouting! YIMS Science!    

Today is World Kindness Day. Students had this little note posted on their lockers this morning from the teachers and our grade 8 students spelled out Be Kind in our parking lot to celebrate the occasion. YIMS chooses KIND!
        

Congratulations to our students who achieved perfect attendance for the first nine weeks.  These students attended bell to bell each day and we are very proud of them and all our students!

Yough students recently competed in Mock Trial hosted by Penn Trafford in conjunction with Westmoreland County Gifted Coalition. There were 8 school districts in attendance and over 80 students participating. Yough students represented the Prosecution and won their trial. Individually, Morynna and Jaxon were awarded Best Advocates, and Darius was awarded Best Witness. Congratulations to our students for such a tremendous performance!

YIMS students recently attended the 34th annual Pumpkin Drop at WVU sponsored by WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. Students use a variety of materials to protect their pumpkins. More than 1,000 students in grades 4-12 from 50 schools across the region attended the event. Of the 243 Pumpkins launched from the 11 story roof, only 47 survived. Out of those 47, 3 landed closest to the target. The YIMS team consisting of Mia, Eloisa and Ryeley was the 3rd closest to the target and was awarded 3rd place overall. Congratulations! Great job!
          

Here are a couple of the cool career day outfits for Red Ribbon Week! YIMS chooses to be drug free!
       

Yough students recently participated in Math Thinking Games hosted by Yough in conjunction with Mon Valley Gifted Coalition. There were 6 school districts and almost 100 students in attendance at the competition. Yough placed 2nd overall in the Intermediate division. Individually, Simon placed 2nd and Morynna placed 3rd overall. Simon was top scorer in Math 24 and Morynna was top scorer in Sudouku
    

CAP/SADD students had the entire YIMS student body sign a DRUG FREE PLEDGE for RED RIBBON WEEK, showing the community that “These Cougar paws DO NOT TOUCH DRUGS !”
  

Students in grade 8 expanded on their hand building pottery knowledge and created pinch pot pumpkins. After the basic shape was formed, students had a ball decorating their pumpkins.
       
  

Our Middle School girls' basketball season is in full swing. We hope you come out to support the team! Go Cougars!
      

Congratulations to Mia for being the first grade 6 student to reach her Successmaker goal! Awesome Job!
  

Mrs. Boban's 8th grade Family and Consumer Science classes wanted to sew some meaningful projects this fall. They asked the Kindergarten classes at Mendon Elementary to design a monster, name it, and come up with some fun facts about it! They then sent the drawings to the 8th graders who made the paper monster into a stuffed friend by sewing, stuffing, and adding all the details the Kindergarteners wanted! After finishing, the 8th grade visited Mendon to deliver the monsters they worked so hard on! The smiles on the Kindergartner's faces were all worth it!

See the pictures in block to the right.

Mrs. Noll's grade 5 ELA classes spent several days learning about the events of 9-11. Every year they honor first responders on Patriots Day by sending letters of thanks to our first responders in local fire companies, ambulance services, and the State Police. We thank all the first responders for their bravery, dedication, and always responding to the call!
        

YIMS is proud to welcome our new students to the district.
Our guidance and administrators had a "get to know you" gathering!